WJPA Sports

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Nick Yorke singled home Bryan Reynolds in the ninth inning to lift the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 3-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles. Reynolds doubled against Ryan Helsley with one out. Baltimore intentionally walked Ryan O’Hearn to bring up Yorke, who had entered as a pinch runner in the eighth. Yorke lined a shot over the head of Baltimore left fielder Dylan Beavers, securing the Pirates’ fourth straight win. Jake Mangum delivered a game-tying run with an infield single in the eighth. The Orioles have dropped four of five.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Evgeni Malkin had his 14th career hat trick to reach 1,400 career points and the Pittsburgh Penguins routed the Florida Panthers 9-4. The loss eliminated the Panthers, the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions, from playoff contention. Erik Karlsson had a goal and three assists for the Penguins, who inched closer to a return to the postseason following a three-year absence. Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby had two assists to move past Hall of Famer Steve Yzerman and into seventh place on the NHL’s all-time scoring list.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Dan Hurley had UConn ready for another Final Four fight night. Once again, his Huskies scored a knockout.  Fabulous freshman Braylon Mullins made another last-minute 3-pointer — his only basket of the second half — and the Huskies muscled their way past Illinois 71-62 on Saturday to reach their third national championship game in four years.  Tarris Reed Jr. had 17 points and 11 rebounds and Mullins finished with 15 points as the Huskies (34-5) rode strong inside play and tough defense to their 19th straight victory in the Sweet 16 or later rounds of the NCAA Tournament.  They’ll face Michigan with a chance to win their seventh national title, all since 1999, as Hurley tries to become the only active coach with more than two championships.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Tobias Harris scored 19 points, and Daniss Jenkins added 16 points and 14 assists as the Detroit Pistons beat the Philadelphia 76ers 116-93 Saturday night to clinch the top seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. The last time the Pistons (56-21) were the top seed in the East was in 2006-07. They have already clinched the Central Division title for the first time since 2007-08. Tyrese Maxey led the 76ers with 23 points. Paul George scored 20 points, and VJ Edgecombe added 19.